Can intended particularly for frozen products



Oct. 26, 1943. E. BENEDICT CAN INTENDED PARTICULARLY FOR FROZEN PRODUCTS Filed Aug. 2, 1940 Patented Oct. 26, 1943 CAN INTENDED PARTICULARLY F FROZEN PRODUCTS Edward Benedict, Philadelphia, Pa., assignorg by mesne assignments, to Crown Can Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 2, 1940, Serial No. 349,708

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a container and closure construction which, while generally useful, is particularly adapted for use in the frozen foods industry as a package for'eggs, chickens, vegetables, fruit, and similar articles.

The container of this invention includes an in-. wardly and downwardly tapered body portion, which terminates at its upper end in an outwardly extending circumferential reinforcing projection and pry-01f ledge, with the wall of the container above said projection indented to form a circumferential groove defining a locking shoulder for the head of a closure. Above the locking groove, the container body is tapered upwardly and inwardly and terminates in a mouth defined by a bead. The closure has a skirt portion conforming to the upwardly and inwardly tapered portion of the body and also has a groove in its top which receives the head on the mouth of the container. The engagement of the closure with the container is frictional and resilient and affords permanently reliable sealing (1) between the head on the mouth of the container and the walls of the groove in the top of the closure, and (2) between the upwardly and inwardly tapered portion of the body of the container and the downwardly and outwardly tapered or conforming portion of the skirt of the closure. This twopoint locking engagement is positive and co-related, in that sealing at one point assures sealing at the other, and constitutes a substantial improvement in the art of containers using pressedon caps to which the present invention generally relates.

There has long been a need in this industry for a container of the above character which may be cheapl manufactured, shipped at low cost when empty, and which, when filled, will provide a reliable air and liquid-tight seal under the severe treatments occasioned by freezing, transportation, and thawing.

Heretofore, there has been largely used, the ordinary slip-type or pressed-on cover with a straight wall container, and although these have proven satisfactory for some purposes, it has not been possible to maintain a reliable seal during rough handling. This has been particularly the case where the container has been subjected to spinning during the thawing operation. The present container is so constructed that the spinning operation will increase the tightness of the seal and will maintain th closure in perfect airtight cooperation with the container.

It has also been the custom in the industry to freeze products in the container in an upright position. This has proven objectionable, since frosted coatings and icicles will form on the top of'the food product, and air bubbles coming out of the product as it is frozen will appear as globules or bubbles, imparting a very unsatisfactory appearance to the article. By means of the present container, in which an improved permanent seal is obtained, the food products may be frozen in an upside-down position, so that when the container is opened, the food products will have desirable appearance. For example, cherries frozen in this manner will appear attractively compacted in frozen position when the-top is removed, and the liquid or Juice will be at the bottom of the can; i. e., below the compacted cherries.

An important advantage of the container of this invention is that when inverted for freezing, the pressure of the food within the container will positively aid in effecting a seal between the top and the container.

It has also been heretofore found necessary in the industry for obtaining a completely satisfactory seal, to employ a container structure, the opening of which mutilates the seal to such an extent that it may not be used again. The con tainer of the present invention may be opened many times without destroying its effective sealing qualities.

Another advantage of th present container is that it is formed with a downwardly and inwardly tapered body portion which allows the containers to be stacked for shipment. This taper also. aids in the removal of the frozen contents of the container.

By means of my improved container, moreover, frozen foods may be more rapidly thawed in warm water by spinning, and during the whole time of this operation, the air-tight seal will be main-- tained. In the usual method of thawing, which takes a period of from four to seven hours, when the material reaches a certain temperature, the bacteria count rises very rapidly, whereas with the present container, by thawing the product very much quicker and especially in an air-tight atmosphere, the bacteria count will be substantially lower at the time of using the product.

The air-tight seal provided by this container is of particular importance in the freezing of poultry, since in leaky containers, freezing tends to drive off the moisture, causing very serious weight losses. With the present can, however, which is.

leakproof, the moisture which is driven off from the product reaches a saturated condition within the can and is not expelled from the same, so that weight losses from this cause are practically negligible. This air-tight seal further eliminates the possibility of objectionable freezer burns, since notwithstanding the low temperatures used, there is sufllcient moisture present to preclude such a condition, which is primarily due to the low temperatures acting upon relatively dry portions of the product. The fact that the moisture is maintained within the container during freezing, enables the freezing to be accomplished at a much more rapid rate than is at present possible.

It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to provide a novel combination of a container and closure therefor which will possess improved sealing properties and thus provide an air and water-tight package capable of withstanding the rough treatment incident to freezing, transportation, and thawing of frozen foods.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a container which may be inexpensively manufactured and shipped at low cost.

Another object of this invention is to provide a package in which the closure may be. opened with a simple tool without distortion and reapplied to form a permanently reliable seal as often as necessary.

Another object of this invention is to provide a container having resilient sealing contact with its closure and which for certain contents, such as oils which are to remain for an extended time in storage, may have an auxiliary plastic material interposed in the joint without interfering with the permanent frictional seal.

A further object of the invention is to provide a package having a tamper-proof seal thereon which will not interfere with, but on the contrary enhance, the effectiveness of the main seal of the container and closure and which will eliminate the objectionable taping sometimes employed with pressed-on caps.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container which may have its contents frozen in an upside-down position without leakage.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a container which can be advantageously sealed by applying the cap or closure under evacuated conditions which will substantially decrease the bacteria count upon application of heat, for example in pasteurizing and sterilizing in the container, and when thawing out frozen contents.

Before describing in detail the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangements of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a cross section of the closure member of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross section of the container body of the invention partly broken away;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross section of the container and closure of Figures 1 and 2 in sealing relationship;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross section of a modification of' closure and container;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross section of a further modification of a container and closure in sealing relationship;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross section of the closure and container of the invention showing a packing ring in position in the joint;

Figure 7 is a cross section of the closure and container of the invention showing a cover, such as wax paper, between the closure and the container, and

Figure 8 is a cross section showing a tamperproof tapered band applied over the skirt of the closure and comprehending the engagement of the locking bead of the closure in the locking groove of the container, as shown in Figure 3.

The present invention will be described in connection with a metal can, such as one of tin plate, but containers of plastics, fibrous compossitions, and paper, are within the scope of the invention, particularly acontainer having the tapered body portion of paper and the tapered top portion, including the reinforcing projection and locking groove, of metal, the two being suitably joined into a body and closed by a metal cap, as shown.

The containers may be seamless, i. e., drawn or of the conventional fabricated or side seam type. i

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1,

the closure member comprises a top portion 20 and a downwardly and outwardly extending tapered skirt portion 2!. The lower or free edge of this skirt portion 2| is curled, e. g., turned inwardly, to form a peripheral locking bead 22 having a locking shoulder 23. The top of the closure is depressed at 24 to form a circumferential groove of a substantially wedge or V- shape in cross section, as indicated at 25. The skirt 2| forms one side of the groove 25, and the other side is formed by the peripheral tapered shoulder or wall 26 which extends upwardly and outwardly from the centrally depressed top portion 20.

Referring to Figure 2, the container body comprises a downwardly and inwardly tapered lower body portion 30 and an upwardly and inwardly tapered mouth portion 3|, terminating in an inwardly turned sealing bead 32 which has a curved surface and forms a sealing lip for the container. This sealing lip 32 has a sealing surface 33. Above the lower body portion 30 is an outwardly extending hollow reinforcing bead or projection 34, and above this bead 34 the container wall is formed with an inwardly extending peripheral locking groove 35. It is to be noted that the base of the conical mouth portion 3| forms with the upper wall of the groove 35, a locking shoulder 36. The outer diameter of this locking shoulder 36 is larger than the inner diameter of the locking bead 22 on the closure. The distance from the locking shoulder 36 to the top of the sealing lip 32 is less than the distance from the locking shoulder 23 on the locking bead 22 to the apex of the V-shaped groove 25 on the closure.

The tapered circumferential sealing shoulder 26 on the closure is of a slightly less diameter at it lower endthan the inner diameter of the sealing surface 33 on the sealing lip 32, but increases in diameter upwardly greater than the diameter of the sealing surface 33. When the closure is in sealing position, the edge portion or surface 33 is resiliently engaged by the sealing shoulder 26 and expanded upwardly and outwardly to establish a firm sealing contact of the lip surface 33 with the shoulder, and simultaneously, the tapered mouth portion 3| is forced outwardly into sealing contact with the inwardly drawn tapered skirt 2|, so as to provide a strong seal between these portions substantially throughout their overlapping areas.

Referring now to Figure 3, the closure is applied to the container-by pressing the closure downwardly over the mouth thereof. =As the closure moves downwardly over the upper conical surface 3! of the container, the bead snaps into the groove 35 and engages the locking shoulder to lock the closure to the-container and hold and draw the tapered skirt 2i inwardly. Simultaneously, the shoulder 26 of the closure engages the sealing surface 33 on the lip 32 of the container, and forces, 1. e., moves the tapered wall 3| outwardly and the lip 32 outwardly and up wardly into the groove 25. The horizontal crosssectional dimension of the medial portion of the groove is substantially the same as the cross-sectional dimension of the bead 32, whereby the curved surface of the head will resiliently contact the sealing shoulder in wedging engagement with the groove. The depressed top 29 is if slightly less diameter than the mouth of the containerto engage in the same and permit the tapered circumferential shoulder 26 to thereafter increasingly expand the mouth and the wall portion 3i. That is, the continued movement down to the locking position of the closure will expand the lip 32 upwardly to its maximum extent. When the closure is locked onto the container, it will be noted that there is still a space remaining between the apex of the groove 25 and the top of the sealing lip 32. This denotes that the sealing lip 32 is held in resilient and frictional engagement against the sealing shoulder 26, which will allow it to give or follow the shoulder 26 under stresses occurring during handling and use.

There is thus provided, as shown in Figure 3, a permanent and reliable seal for the container between lip 32 and shoulder 26. Moreover, and referring to Figure 3, when the closure is looked upon the container, the skirt portion 25 thereof is held tightly, i. e., frictionally and in sealing engagement, with the outer conforming surface 35 of the container. This second sealing engagement between the co-extensive or overlapping areas of the respective tapered portions 2i and 3! is produced by reason of the outward movement of the lip 32 in engagement with the shoulder 26, as above described. The sealing engagement, therefore, between the tapered areas is equally permanent with the engagement between the lip 32 and shoulder 26 so that the sealing at both points is interdependent and thoroughly reliable.

The resultant double seal occasioned by the frictional and resilient engagement of the closure with the container is a decided improvement and contributes substantially to the provision of a container having sealing qualities not heretofore obtained. In particular, the seal established between the closure and the container body withstands the hard usage which the container encounters as a package for frozen foods. For instance, any stresses on the sealed can will be largely taken up by reason of the frictional and resilient two-point sealing contact.

When the can is inverted for freezing, the outward pressure will increase the efiiciency of the seal between the surfaces 3! and 2! that is, be-

- pered wall of the container.

tween the skirt of the closure and the upper ta- The same is true when the container is spun, since, the centrifugal force of the contents will exert a similar outward sealing force against the wall 3|. I

As shown in Figure 6, a plastic and/or resilient packing material 31, such as used in can ends, may be advantageously utilized to increase the emclency of the seal between the closure and the container in some cases; e. g., with side seam cans to assure a proper seal at the lap. The construction of the closure and container mouth and lip are the same as in Figures 1 through 3. Instead of having the portion of the V-shaped groove near the apex of that groove filled by air, a packing ring may be inserted in the apex portion of this groove. When this packing material is present, it will not interfere with the previously described resilient contact between the sealing surfaces 33 and 26, nor will it interfere with the resilient contact between the surfaces 2! and 31.

Referring now to Figure 4, there is shown a modification of the container and closure described in Figures 1 through 3. In this modification, the container body comprises a downwardly and inwardly tapered body portion 40, a reinforcing rib 4i, and an upwardly and inwardly tapered mouth portion 62 having an intermediate circumferential locking ridge 42' formed thereon, the free edge of the tapered portion 62 terminating in a curled sealing lip 53 similar to the lip 32. The closure is similar to that shown in Figure 1 having a top portion 36, an upwardly and outwardly inclined sealing shoulder 65 formingwith the skirt portion 66, a V-shaped groove 51. In the skirt portion '36 there is a circumferential looking groove is corresponding to the locking ridge 32', on the container body. The skirt 3B terminates in an outwardly turned reinforcing bead 49. When the closure of Figure 4 is applied to the container of Figure 4, the same sealing efiects as described in connection with Figure 3 are created, with the exception that instead of having the locking head of the closure at the lower extremity of the closure, it is on the skirt portion. This container and closure combination, however, gives the same double seal as described in connection with Figure 3.

The closure and container shown in Figure 5 are similar in all respects to the combination shown in Figure 4 except that inthis construction, the skirt of the closure is provided with an intermediate projection or ridge 5d engaging in a corresponding circumferential groove iii in the upwardly and inwardly tapered mouth portion of the container.

Also, in connection with Figures 4 and 5, instead of having peripheral grooves and corre-- sponding peripheral ridges on the container or closure, a groove with corresponding spaced indentations or lugs may be used; that is, in Figure 4 the ridge 62' will be replaced by spaced indentations or lugs, and likewise in Figure 5, the ridge so will be replaced by spaced indentations or lugs.

Referring to Figure 7, it is sometimes desirable to provide a skirted sealingcover or apron 52 of wax paper to protect the contents of the container from contact with the interior of the c1osure. In such case, a sealing liner 31 is usually unnecessary. The construction illustrated in Figure 7 is of the type described in connection with Figure 3, and the closure-like sealing cover 52, such as waxed paper, is positioned between the main closure and the container to. close the mouth thereof and overlie the tapered portion 3| This sealing cover is preferably shaped like the closure and is placed on the top of the container prior to the application of the closure. When the closure is pressed down onto the container, the same plural sealing efiect as described in connection with Figure 3 is obtained with the apron disposed between the contact surfaces 33 and 26, and 3| and 2!.

The disclosure in Figure 8 relates to a modification which is found desirable when the customer wants a tamper-proof can. In this modiflcation, the container and closure are the same as described in connection with Figure 3. There is, however, an additional sealing element 53 which consists of a tapered or frusto-conical circular band of soft or flexible metal. This member 53 is frictionally slipped down over the sealed can, for example either before or after freezing, so that it overlies the bead 22 engaged in the sealing groove 35 and the lower edge of the cone extends over the sealing groove. This edge is then either crimped or rolled into the sealing groove, as shown at 54, so that it may not be removed without destroying the band as by a suitable tool. Any effort to expand the locking bead 22 will, of necessity, break the sealing cone 53. As can be seen from this drawing, this sealing cone does not interfere in any way with the sealing operation of the locking bead 22. In fact, it protects the locking engagement of the bead 22 in the groove 35 and assists the seal in that it eliminates taping heretofore required to prevent loosening of the closure during thawing and ppi a- While I have, for convenience, shown the modifications of Figures 6, '7, and 8 in connection with the container of Figures 1 to 3, they are equally useful in connection with the constructions shown in Figures 4 and 5.

The bead or projection 34 of Figures 1 to 3 and the beads or projections M of Figures 4 and 5 will serve as pry-off ledges to remove the closure without distortion of the same or the container.

In referring herein to the strong double seal formed by the several constructions and its resistance to the severe spinning incident to the thawing of frozen foods in water or other heating medium, I have in mind the severe action on the container created by rotating the container for a certain period in on direction and then reversing the direction of rotation or slowing down the rotary speeds. Heretofore, unless precaution was taken, such spinning would release the cap from the can or the spinning had to be dispensed with, notwithstanding it is highly desirable.

I claim:

1. In combination, a container and a closure therefor, the container having an upwardly and inwardly directed tapered mouth portion with a head on the upper edge thereof providing a substantially curved surface, and a closure having a skirt tapered to substantially conform to the taper of said mouth portion and overlying the same when the closure is in sealing position, said closure having a downwardly and inwardly inclined and circumferentially tapered sealing shoulder opposite the skirt and forming therewith a circumferential groove wedge-shaped in cross-section, the horizontal cross-sectional dimension of the medial portion of the groove being substantially the same as the cross-sectional dimension of the said head whereby the curved surface of the bead will resiliently contact the shoulder in wedging engagement with the groove, and means for locking the closure upon the container, said means comprising a head on the free edge of the skirt of the closure cooperating with a groove in the container.

2. The combination in accordance with claim 1 in which the tapered sealing shoulder of the closure at its lower end is of a slightly less diameter than the inner diameter of the mouth portion of the container at its upper edge.

EDWARD L. BENEDICT 

